Lady Bulldogs' softball season ends on a dramatic note

DECATUR, Ala. -- The Alabama A&M softball team's season came to an end Thursday night in the Southwestern Athletic Conference softball tournament.

But it wasn't without drama, suspense or excitement and it gave hope to the future for the young A&M team.

The Lady Bulldogs fell 6-3 to Alabama State in the second round of the losers' bracket.

In Thursday's earlier game, Viridiana Ramos was 5-for-5 with six RBIs and starting pitcher Jordan Bradley went the distance as the Lady Bulldogs defeated Prairie View 13-5 in six innings to eliminate the Lady Panthers from the tournament.

In the Alabama State game, the Lady Hornets built up a 6-2 lead heading into the seventh when the Lady Bulldogs mounted a comeback attempt.

Anisa Britt struck out but reached first when the catcher dropped the pitch and overthrew first base. One out later, Brianna Zeigler singled and Sierra Smith, running for Britt, moved to second. Eriel Lawson was safe on an error as Zeigler and Smith moved up to load the bases.

The excitement was building among the A&M faithful with Tiana Sanders, A&M's leading home run hitter and RBI-producer, coming up to bat.

Smith then scored on a passed ball cutting the ASU lead to 6-3 while Zeigler and Lawson moved up a base. Then, Sanders walked to load the bases with one out.

However, a strikeout and ground out later, the game and season ended for Alabama A&M, which finishes 18-25.

Initially, the Lady Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Zeigler scored on a fielder's choice by Sanders.

The Lady Hornets, though, answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 2-1 lead.

A&M tied the score on Anisa Britt's double that drove home Jessica Alferos, who came in for Imani Largin who was hurt when she reached first on an error. ASU regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on Jazzmin Romero's solo home run.

The Lady Hornets then added runs in the fourth and fifth innings for the 6-2 lead.

Britt pitched all six innings for her 12th complete game of the season, striking out three while scattering eight hits and giving up one walk. Zeigler had two hits for A&M.

Against Prairie View, the Lady Bulldogs broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run second inning and never looked back. A&M scored in every inning, including four runs in the fifth and a three-run sixth.

Ramos had two doubles among her five hits. Her five hits and six runs batted in were the most for an A&M player in a game this season.

Sanders had a pair of hits and two RBIs, Lawson scored three runs and had two RBIs and Zeigler scored twice with two RBIs. Bradley and Sierra Smith also each scored two runs.

In the win, Bradley gave up eight hits but just two of the five Prairie View runs were earned. She also walked three and struck out one in her sixth complete game.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#11 Viridiana Ramos: INF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

#00 Eriel Lawson: OF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; L/R

#6 Sierra Smith: C; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#14 Jordan Bradley: P/1B; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#15 Imani Largin: P/OF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#17 Jessica Alferos: OF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Tiana Sanders: SS; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Viridiana Ramos
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#00 Eriel Lawson
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#6 Sierra Smith
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: C

#14 Jordan Bradley
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: P/1B

#15 Imani Largin
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: P/OF

#17 Jessica Alferos
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#20 Tiana Sanders
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: SS